GBU-49 being added to F-35’s arsenal in order to attack moving targets

The U.S. Air Force has brought forward a plan to integrate the GBU-49 smart weapon to the F-35A in order for the stealth fighter to persecute against moving targets.

By U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Haseltine [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The decision to do so was made six to nine months ago, according to Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus.

The jet’s EOTS lacks a lead-laser guidance mode which will allow a laser-guide weapon to hit a non-stationary target. The GBU-49 is able to sidetrack this problem with its onboard lead-laser guidance capability.